University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


ELLIOTT    ELAINE  HENDERSON 


Jes'  Plain  Black  Fo'ks 


POEMS  COMPOSED 
BY 

ELLIOTT  ELAINE  HENDERSON 

AUTHOR  OF 

THE  FIRST  AND  SECOND  EDITION 
OF 

"Plantation  Echoes" 
"Soliloquy  of  Satan" 
"Dis,  Dat  an*  Tutter" 
"Humble  Fo'ks" 
"Darky  Meditations" 
"Uneddeekayted  Fo'ks" 


SPRINGFIELD,     OHIO 


DEDICATION. 


This  book  is  most  respectfully  dedicated  to  the  following  named 
gentlemen,  who  were  among  the  first  to  give  encouragement  to  my 
literary  effusions. 


Mr.  Geo.  S.  Anderson 

Mr.  Sinclair  Berdan 

Mr.  Wm.  Standart 

Mr.  W.  T.  Huntsman 

Mr.  Fred  W.  Reama 

Mr.  Frank  Bolger 

Mr.  Nicholas  Neuhausel 

Hon.   R.  A.   Bartley 

Mr.  G.  B.  Steitz 

Mr.   Fred    H.   Kratt 

C.   M.   Feibach 

Mayor  Brand  Whitlock 

Prof.  J.  E.  Ecker 

Mr.  A.   Kaufman 

Mr.  J.   M.  Stoddard 

Mr.  R.  J.  Free 

Mr.  Geo.   B.  Eyssen 

Mr.  W.  A.  Steddy 

Mr.  G.  W.  Tanner 

Mr.  Oliver  S.  Bond 

Mr.  W.  M.  Booker 

Hon.  D.  W.  Camp 

Dr.  W.  G.  Dice 

Dr.  O.   Landman 

Mr.  O.  C.  Conlisk 

Dr.  Lewis  F.  Smead 

Mr.  M.  Jeffery 

Probate  Judge  O'Donnell 

Dr.  Todd 


Dr.  W.  Sallume 
Dr.   W.   G.   Gardner 
Dr.  R.  H.  Vollmayer 
Dr.  Whiteham 
Dr.  W.  W.  Brand 
Dr.  D.  H.  Fisher 
Dr.  F.  W.  Alter 
Mr.  Geo.  P.  Wells 
Dr.  Roll 

Dr.  J.  M.  Morgan 
Dr.  P.  I.  Mulholand 
Mr.  H.  S.  Reynolds 
Mr.  J.  D.  Biggers 
Dr.  Wm.  Wickmam 
Dr.  Edwin  D.  Tucker 
Dr.  A.  T.  Barnum 
Dr.  G.   B.   Booth 
Hon.  Edward  Ford 
Mr.  Arthur  B.  Laskey 
Dr.  P.  J.  Bidwell 
Prof.  Wm.  Guitteau, 

Supt.    Public    Schools 
Mr.  W.  A.  Spencer, 

1st  National  Bank 
Dr.  J.  H.  McVay 
Hon.  Harry  E.  King 
Mr.  E.  C.  Law 
Mr.  Wm.  E.  Volmayer 
Dr.  J.  O.  Denman 


Mr.   H.  D.  Whitcomb 
Mr.  Sidney  E.  Aftcl 
Mr.    Gco.    M.   Jones 
Hon.  A.  C.   Stevenson 
Hon.  E.  D.  Potter 
Dr.  W.  A.  Oowing 
Mr.  August  Schade 
Gen.  J.  K.  Hamilton 
Mr.  C.  A.  Seiders 
Dr.  Geo.  Denman 
Mr.  W.  H.  Sargent 
Mr.  H.  Geddes 


Hon.  Geo.  C.  Bysrt 
Mr.  A.  Klem 
Mr.  Morrow. 

Wells  Fargo  Co. 
Hon.  P.  A.  Coen 
Mr.  David  Armstrong 
Hon.   Wm.   Wallbridge 
Dr.  Charles  W.  Moots 
Dr.  Leatherman 
Hon.  F.  J.  Reynolds 
Attorney  Tracy 


DE  BES'  STATE  IN  DE  LAN'! 


Ah  comes  from  ol'  Verginnee, 

De  bes'  state  in  de  Ian'! 

Whah  fo'ks  hain't  skyahd  to  meet  you, 

Hain't  erf  raid  to  shake  yo'  han'. 

Dey's  jes'  plain  an'  ol'  fashion, 

Dey  don't  put  on  no  airs, 

Wid  fo'k's  dat  do,  you  bet  yo'  life 

Dey's  got  no  time  to  spare. 

Why  down  in  ol'  Verginnee, 

Why,  it's  "eome  in!  howdee-you-doo !" 

Hab  er  bite  ob  sumpun,  fo'  yo'  journey 

you  pursue ! 

Jes'  stay  long  ez  you  mine  to, 
You  needn'  pay  er  cent ! 
Jes'  make  yo'se'f  one  ob  us 
An'  we  all,  will  feel  content! 
An'  feed  yo '  ?  lawd  er  massy  chile ! 
Dey  don't  know  when  to  stop! 
It's  hab  some  mo'  dat  hog  head,  brudder, 
Hab  er  nudder  chop ! 
Den  f us '  ting  yo  '11  hyah  ol '  uncle,  say, 
Chile,  is  yo'  skyahd  to  eat? 
Ef  you  don't  eat  up  all  ah  pass, 
You'll  i'sult  ol'  Uncle  Pete! 

Den  nex'  hyah  comes  ol'  granny 
Wid  some  egg  pone  jes'  lak  golM 
Some  mustard  greens  wid  bacon 
An'  some  good  ol'  fat  hog  jowl! 
An '  by  de  time  she 's  f otchd  yo ' 
Plenty  chicken,  plenty  gobbler, 
Be  jinks  yo'  hain'  got  room  ernuf 
To  stuff  down  apple  cobbler. 

Poordy  soon  yo'll  see  ol'  granny, 
Sof 'ly  steal  out  in  de  kitchen, 


Tain't  long  fo'  she's  totein'  back, 
Jes'  er  rahin'  back  jes'  er  switchin,. 
Den  ol'  uncle  ejacerlates, 
"Sho'ez  ah'sborn  to  die"! 
Sookeeryah,  Looey  Jane, 
Whah  am  mah  Rock  an'  Rye"! 

Den  granny  kinder  teasin'  lak 

Pokes  out  er  dimmejohn. 

An'  uncle  clahs  his  tho'at  dat  sounds 

Bout  lak  er  cracked  fox  horn. 

An'  says,  "dis  takes  all  de  kinks 

Out  de  back ! 

So  pass  yo  goards 

An'  hab  jes'  er  smack"! 

It's  good  fo'  de  rich, 

It 's  good  f o '  de  po ' ! 

Go  back  in  de  kitchen  Lizea 

Fotch  us  all  some  mo'. 

Dat's  de  way  dem  fo'kses  treat  yo', 

Dey  want  to  see  yo'  joy  yo'se'f ! 

Eat  an'  drink  jes  all  yo'  mine  to 

Long  ez  anyting  is  lef '. 

Yo'  bet  dey's  allus  got  er  barrel  ob 

Grub  eroun'  de  shanty! 

Summer,  winter,  spring  er  fall, 

You  nebber  find  it  scanty 

You  go  to  chu'ch,  to  Sunday  meetin', 

Ebbry  body  wants  to  meet  yo ' ! 

Dey  don't  wait  fo'  yo'  to  speak  fus' 

But  dey  tote  right  up  an'  greet  yo' 

Dey  don't  stan'  off  er  lookin'  lak 

Yo'  was  some  alligator, 

Erf  raid  to  git  up  close  to  yo', 

Lak  yo 's  er  spile  pertayter. 

Yo'll  find  dem  zackly  lak  ah  tells  yo' 
Ez  ol'  fashion  ez  de  dickens! 
Don't  kyah  ef  yo's  ez  poh  ez  snakes, 
Er  rich  ez  Peter  Diggens! 


It  hain't  yo'  clothes  dey's  lookin'  at, 
Ner  at  yo'  eddeerkayshen. 
But  good  hoss  sense  an'  propah  ways 
Whut  wins  dey  admiration! 

Ahs  been  up  hyah  in  dis  hyah  state, 
Ah  spec'  poord  nah  fow  years  er  so. 
Deez  fo'kses  to  git  quainted  wid, 
Dey  sho'  Gawd  knows  am  mos'  powful  slo' 
Ah  kaint  git  use  to  dem  at  tall, 
Dey  ac's  too  ristercrattic  fo'  me. 
Ahd  rudder  be  bodderd  wid  yaller  jackets 
Er  stung  in  de  ankle 
Wid  er  bumble  bee ! 

Dat's  why  yo'  dadd  an'  me's  sich  pallies.z 
Kaze  de  fus '  time  dat  ah  struck  diss  town, 
Er  stranger,  he  walked  up  to  me, 
Says'  howd  doo  brudder  which  way's  yo's 
bound  ? 

Why  he  jes'  made  me  feel  right  dah 
We'd  bofe  been  'quainted  forty  yeahs. 
It  did  mah  ol'  heart  so  much  good, 
Ah  mus,  hab  drapped  some  joyful  tears ! 
Ah  knowed  right  dah,  yo'  daddy's 
Some  de  ol'  Verginnee  stock! 
When  he  frowed  his  mouf  wide  open, 
An'  he  den  commenced  to  talk. 
Zackly  lak  dem  fo'ks  down  yonder, 
It  was,  ' '  come  go  home  wid  me ! 
We'll  fill  up  de  pots  an'  skillets 
Fill  yo'  up  till  yo'  kain't  see ! 

Ef  dey  all  was  lak  yo'  daddy, 
Wid  er  smile  an'  frenly  han', 
Dog  mah  cats,  an'  string  terbaccer! 
Ah  don't  bleeb  ahd  leeb  diss  Ian'. 
Kaze  he's  jes'  de  sort  o'  pusson 
Dat  can  make  yo'  feel  at  home, 
Till  yo'  feel  jes'  lak  er  settlin'  down, 
Wid  feelin's  not  to  roam! 


THE  CAPTIVATING  MISTAH  BONESGET! 


De  atmosphere  am  sumptuous, 
Radder  copeyess,  don't  you  tink? 
How's  you  been  pair  boilin' 
Since  ah  seed  you  las ',  Miss  Pinnk  ? 
Is  yo'  health  been  aggerfortess 
In  de  aspec'  ob  refrain? 
In  de  hope  dat  youse  been  tollable, 
Does  distort  me  much  in  vain. 

Yes,  de  air  am  very  fertile, 

Mistah  Bonesett,  sumptuous,  too ! 

De  stravergance  ob  de  wedder 

Some  whut  renders  me  ah — boo! 

But  mah  health  seems  perpendickler 

Ah'  er  li'l  bit  obtoose, 

Dat  prevents  de  fermentation 

Ob  mah  makin',  any  skewce ! 

Well  ah's  powful  glad  to  know  Miss  Pinnk, 

Youse  been  so  copperrottic ! 

An'  yo  incandessent  feelin's 

Habent  lef  you  narerocottic ! 

But  de  season  am  specific, 

Fo'  de  good  ol'  times  renew 

So  we'll  tote  into  de  ball  room 

An'  bofe  dance  er  step  er  two! 

Why  dat  meets  all  mah  compunctions, 
Mistah  Bonesett,  to  er  tittle ! 
Ah  jes'  hopps  plum  over  sally, 
When  ah  hyahs  er  screetchin'  fiddle. 
Does  ah  hoi'  mah  train  petightly? 
Is  ah  lookin'  pickerdilly? 
Miss  Pinnk,  youse  sho '  disastrous ! 
You  am  sho'  er  flouncin'  lilly! 


GRISPUS  ATTUCKS! 


Ye  sons  of  Adam's  mighty  race, 

Unfettered  by  God's  munificent  grace, 

Have  ye  forgot  that  noble  sire, 

Who  filled  with  patriotic  fire, 

Struck  first  the  blow  for  freedom's  cause 

To  abbrogate  the  tyrant's  laws? 

If  such  there  be  let  him  be  shunned, 

By  every  loyal  patriot  son! 

He  is  not  fit  for  freedmen's  clan, 

Who  forgets  the  deeds  of  such  a  man! 

1 

Heaven  hath  decreed  through  Adam's  fall, 
Each  race  for  a  sr)ell  must  bear  the  thrall. 
Through  blood  and  tears  it  must  be  freed, 
by  brave  magnanimous,  generous  deeds. 


Hear  ye !  the  cry  from  thralldom  's  plain, 
" Arise  ye  slaves,  shake  off  thy  chains!" 
While  tryants  tremble,  cringe  and  groan, 
Dismayed  they  totter  on  their  thrones! 
Against  tyranny,  that  great  revolt, 
Rushed  like  the  mighty  thunder  bolts, 
And  like  a  Vesuvius  in  eruptive  state, 
It  left  the  foe  most  desolate! 


Liberty,  the  invigorating  elixir  sweet! 
Descended  from  heav'n's  mercy  seat, 
The  boon  for  which  all  mankind  thrives, 
Bought  by  tne  blood  of  countless  lives, 
Inspired  that  act  which  broke  the  spell, 
For  which  brave  Crispus  Attucks,  fell. 


Well  didst  he  strike !    This  martyr  brave, 
Couldst  he  but  rise  up  from  his  grave 
Behold  his  country  disenthralled, 
In  majesty  and  sweet  content, 
'Mid  scenes  most  glorious,  eloquent, 
Filled  with  an  unctuous  holy  joy 
To  sweeter  dreams  he  could  lie  down, 
Through  evening  shades  pass  to  yon  shore 
Receive  the  well  earned  martyr's  crown. 


Who  was  this  man  whose  deeds  we  trace? 
He  was  of  Ethiopia's  race, 
Whose  sons  have  suffered,  bled  and  died, 
To  help  make  this  land  unified ! 


Ye  sons  of  Ethopia's  race, 
Arise  with  dignity  and  grace ! 
Since  from  beneath  the  chastening  rod 
Ye  have  been  raised  by  mighty  God, 
Heaven  expects  thee  to  help  rear, 
The  mighty  structure  building  here! 


His  body  sleeps  beneath  the  sod, 
O'er  which  no  tyrants  cohorts  trod. 
Though  dead,  yet  he  is  more  alive 
Than  when  on  earth  he  did  here  strive. 
The  blow  he  struck  for  freedom's  band. 
Still  goes  resounding  through  the  land. 
To  those  unborn  it  shall  proclaim 
" Liberty  for  all"  in  Heaven's  name. 


His  deeds  shall  shine  like  that  great  light 
Which  bursts  from  Pisga's  lofty  height. 
The  encircling  gloom  cannot  obscure 
It 's  light  that  shines  for  ever  more. 


10 


So  let  His  deeds  your  souls  inspire  ! 
Filled  with  a  patriotic  fire, 
First,  last  and  always,  ever  be, 
A  negro  !    Proud  of  your  ancestry  ! 

Liberty  enthroned  the  great  jubilate 

Is  sung  by  the  Angels  as  they  congregate, 

Around  the  portals  of  the  Lord 

And  strike  their  harps  with  one  accord! 

Yv'rite  with  a  vigor,  with  a  fire, 
The  name  of  this  redoubtable  sire ! 
Upon  the  page  ascribed  to  those, 
Who  died  to  lift  a  nation's  woes! 


11 


OH  MY!    OH  MY! 

Hain't  yo '  glad  dat  summah  's  come  ? 

Oh  my!  Oh  my! 

You  can  hyah  de  birds  chatter,  you  can  hyah 

de  bees  hum, 
Oh  my  !  Oh  my ! 

An'  de  air  am  balm,  an'  de  air  am  sweet, 
An'  de  wild  flow'rs  hoppin'-up  'bout  yo'  feet. 
While  de  sun  up  yondah  am  er  fro  win'  down 

heat, 

Oh  my !  Oh  my ! 

Meadows  green  an'  sof  ez  down! 

Oh  my !  Oh  my ! 

Spreadin'  out  all  'bout  de  town, 

Oh  my!  Oh  my! 

Tears  lak  dey  to  er  niggah  say, 

4 'Prow  yo'  hoe  an'  shubbel  erway 

Loaf  an'  wollow  de  live  long  day, 

Oh  my !  Oh  my ! 

De  tayter  craps  am  sproutin '  fine ! 

Oh  my  !  Oh  my ! 

Melluns  soon'll  be  on  de  vine, 

Oh  my !  Oh  my ! 

Sugah  corn  an'  all  sich  stuff, 

Buddah  beans  all  in  er  puff, 

Man  hain't  ah  done  said  ernuff? 

Oh  my  !  Oh  my  ! 

Dat's  de  time  dat  seems  to  me, 

Oh  my !  Oh  my  ! 

Whut  de  preechahs  call  de  juberlee ! 

Oh  my  !  Oh  my ! 

Tings  am  skrunkshess,  tings  am  gran'! 

Sumdeeleress  on  ebbry  han' 

Lak  dem  'cross  Jordan  on  de  udder  stran', 

Oh  my !  Oh  my ! 


12 


DARKY  OPTIMISM. 


Yo'  needn't  watch  diss  ol'  man, 
Out  de  corner  ob  yo '  eye, 
When  yo'  see  him  er  totin' 
Wid  er  dirnmeejohn  ob  rye ! 
Jes'  git  out  de  way 
An'  keep  to  you'se'f 
Kaze  yo'  not  ergwine  to  git 
None  diss  stuff  ob  uncle  Jeff! 


Ahs  been  down  to  de  white  fo'ks 

Er  hoein'  de  tayter  patch! 

Er  diggin'  an'  er  weedin' 

An'  er  shubblin'  lak  de  scratch. 

An'  de  sun  done  roas'  me 

Till  ahs  dry  ez  er  skinch! 

Ahs  got  to  hab  somepun 

Fo'  diss  niggers  th'oat  to  quench! 


Ah  bahly  can  tote 

Long  down  de  lane  jes'  now! 

But  lemmee  tas'e  mah  toddy 

An'  ah '11  sho'  yo'  all  how, 

To  kick  up  yo'  heels 

An'  honp  ercross  de  picketts, 

An'  out  run  de  lead  houn' 

Er  strippin'  thoo  de  thicketts! 


13 


Some  how  nudder, 

Tears  de  older  ah's  er  gittin', 

Toddy  am  de  only  ting, 

Dat  seems  to  make  me  fittin'! 

An'  dey  hain't  no  tellin' 

Whut  diss  ol'  man  kain't  do, 

Fum  buttin'  down  an  ox 

To  heistin'  up  er  mule  er  two! 

So  ah  drinks  mah  toddy, 
An'  ah  drinks  mak  licker! 
It  makes  me  mo'  powr'ful 
An'  ah  gits  erbout  quicker- 


DE  FRACAS  IN  DE  CHOIR. 


Ob  all  de  tings  dat  happen,  fo'ks 

In  er  com'cal  sort  o'  way, 

An'  one  gawd  knows  ah  won't  fo'git 

Ef  ah  out  live  Jobe's  day, 

It  tuck  place,  way  back  yonder 

In  Eighteen  Sebenty-three, 

Jes'  shortly  after  comin'  back 

Mahse'f  fum  Tennersee. 

De  kayshun  was  er  funer'l 

One  Sunday  at  dechu'ch. 

De  dead  man  in  de  coffin 

Was  de  good  ol*  Deacon  Perch. 

De  Pawson  axd  me  ef  ah  wouldn't 

Tote  up  in  de  choir, 

An'  play  on  de  merlodein, 

To  he'p  sing  sot  Siss  Merryor. 

De  chu'ch  was  packed  wid  black  fo'ks 

Honey,  way  back  to  de  doh. 

Befo'  ah  takes  mah  tex  de  Pawson 

Said,  we'll  sing  some  mo'! 

Ah  said  den  to  de  choir, 

Rise  up  an '  sing  Hawk  fum  de  Tomb ! 

Merryor,  she  got  mad  an'  said, 

We  won 't  sah  !  ah  presume  ! 

She  said,  we's  gwine  to  sing  de  chune 

Dat  ah's  done  picked  out  hyah ! 

Den  after  dat,  we'll  rise  an'  sing, 

Sum  udder,  after  prah. 

Say,  hoi'  on  sister,  nex'  ah  said, 

Why  does  you  disagree? 

' '  Shet  up  !  she  sklaimed,  how  dah  you  sah ! 

To  frippertate  wid  me  !" 


IS 


"Ef  you  don't  lak  sah,  what  ah's  said. 

You  swallertail  eyed  fool, 

Pucker  up  yo'se'f  real  tight 

An'  git  down  fum  dat  stool! 

You  kain't  play  dat  ting  any  way, 

You  jes'  can  make  it  squeak1 

Er  gittin'  up  dah  an'  tryin'  to  play 

Youse  full  ob  gall  an'  cheek." 

Ah  said,  be  kam  now  sistah. 
Er  git  out  ef  you  don't  lak  it! 
Kaze  ah's  de  leader  hyah  today, 
Hyah's  Deacons  fo'  to  back  it! 
Den  when  de  choir  got  up  to  sing 
She  didn't  budge  an'  inch, 
An'  'fused  to  he'p  when  she  was  axd 
To  git  up  fum  de  bench. 


Dey  sung  de  fus'  an'  secon'  verse, 

De  Pawson  tuck  his  tex, 

An'  all  de  time  Merryor 

She  fussed  at  me  in  er  vex, 

Said  she,  "wait  till  ah  gits  you 

Ah '11  kick  yo'  insides  out! 

You  hambone  hippercritt  scoundrel, 

You  kain't  dictate  me  er  bout!" 


Ah  said,  "now  big  foot  Susan, 

We  all  knows  you  is  here." 

Now  ef  ah's  you,  ah  would  keep  still, 

Don't  lak  er  monkey  'pear! 

Yo'  voice  sounds  lak  er  worried  dog 

Dat's  pestered  wid  de  itch. 

You  squall  way  bove  de  udders 

An'  youse  nebber  got  de  pitch! 


16 


Dat  struck  her  lak  er  bumb  shell, 

She  narly  tuck  mah  jacket! 

Ef  some  one  hadn't  held  her  down, 

Right  dah,  she'd  raised  er  rackett! 

Aldoh  she  got  er  li'l  kam, 

She  still  was  feelin'  warm! 

Ah  knowed  when  serbices  was  out, 

She's  gwine  to  raise  er  storm. 


De  Pawson  got  thew  preachin', 

An'  we  sang,  " Bless  be  de  Tie", 

"Take  Down  yo'  Harps  Fum  de  Willers", 

"Don't  Let  de  Chariot  Pass  You  By"! 

Ah  nex  struck  up  de  funeral  march, 

Real  solemn,  lak,  an'  slo', 

An'  when  ah  thought  de  corpse  was  out 

Ah  struck  out  f  o '  de  doh  ! 


But  good  Lawd!  fo'  ah  got  ha'f  way, 
Dah  stood  Merryor  waitin', 
Er  puffin'  an'  pusspirein', 
Lak  some  big  black  sheep  er  blatein' 
She  weighed  ah  specks  free  hunded 
An'  she's  stronger  den  an'  ox, 
Ah  bet  mah  coon  skin  jacket, 
She  stood  six  feet  in  her  sox ! 


She  yelled  "you  pizen  skunk, 

Whut  am  dat  youse  done  said  to  me? 

You  am  done  pusseefied  me 

An'  done  'suit  mah  diggerneetee ! 

She  struck  out  lak  er  lightnin'  bolt, 

Lawd !  how  ah  hopped  erside ! 

An'  sklaimed,  "now  see  hyah  sistah, 

Diss  ting  mus'  be  recterfied!" 


17 


"Recterfy  de  debil", 

All  ah  d'sahs,  to  knock  you  down"! 

Buss  you  twix  de  eye  balls, 

Wid  you  wipe  up  diss  hyah  groun ' ! 

Ah  let  you  know  you  hain't  er  gwine 

To  pusseecute  Merryor 

Whose  one  de  pillahs  ob  diss  chu'ch 

An'  leader  ob  dis  choir- 


Ah  didn't  zackly  sprint,  but  say, 

Ah  didn  't  lose  no  time ! 

When  you  is  skyahd,  ah  allus  said, 

"To  run  it  am  no  crime"! 

De  Lawd  he  gimmee  two  good  legs, 

An'  ah  can  use  'em,  too! 

Dey  hain't  much  diffunce  in  mah  Speed 

An'  dat  ob  er  kangeroo! 


She  come  at  me  er  fly  in', 

Lak  er  big  puzsimmon  bear ! 

Ah  lift  up  bofe  mah  hoppahs 

An'  out  run  er  Belgian  hare! 

Ah  knowed  ef  her  big  carcuss 

Ebber  drapped  erpon  dis  nigger, 

Dey  wouldn't  been  er  nuff  grease  lef ', 

To  oil  er  muskett  trigger ! 

Dey's  one  de  Deacons  grabbed  her 

But  she  toh  loose  fum  her  jacket, 

She  hollered,  "go  way  deacon, 

Ah  hain't  thew  wid  diss  hyah  rackett!" 

Ah  made  er  bee  line  fo'  de  doh, 

But  right  dah  on  de  stairs, 

Dah  stood  de  weepin'  mourners, 

An'  de  husky  big  pall  bears. 


18 


But  right  on  thew,  sum  how  ah  went, 

Sum  how  ah  got  outside, 

Sum  whut  out  ob  bref  mahse'f, 

But  glad  to  save  mah  hide. 

Ah  nebbah  seed  er  woman 

Wid  so  much  fat  in  mah  life, 

Jump  up  an'  use  her  foots  so  fas', 

In  er  fracas  an '  er  strife ! 


To  me  it  am  er  riddle, 

An'  it  beats  de  ol'  sam  patch, 

How  ah  got  out  ob  sich  er  squabble, 

Widdout  er  single  scratch. 

But  she  made  me  do  sum  dodgin', 

Was  wuss  den  maulin'  rails, 

An'  made  me  hop  an'  run  so  fas', 

Dat  de  blackes'  would  tarnd  pale! 


19 


THE  OLD  VETERANS. 


Doff  your  hats  and  bow  your  heads 
The  Old  Veterans  are  passing  by ! 
Battled  scarred,  their  days  far  spent, 
Life's  eventide  fast  draweth  nigh. 

Warriors  bold,  gallant  and  brave. 
They  faltered  not,  they  new  no  fear, 
Where  e'er  their  captain  led  the  way. 
They  sallied  forward,  with  a  cheer. 
Decrepit,  haltingly  they  go, 
Like  tottering  children,  step,  by  step ! 
Within  their  eyes  still  is  the  glow  of 

patriotism, 
That  has  not  slept. 

The  world  has  heard  their  belching  guns, 
The  rattle  of  their  musketry, 
Behold  their  dashing,  cavalcades, 
Fight!    That  a  nation  might  be  free! 
Their  deeds  are  mighty  as  the  sea, 
And  shine  bedazzling  as  the  sun ! 
An  inspiration  to  all  men 
Who've  struggled,  since  the  world  begun. 

They  fought  for  that  approved  by  God! 
Truth  and  right,  justice  for  all! 
And  heav'n  and  earth  rejoiced  as  one 
when  burst  the  nation's  bond  and  thrall! 


Christ  shed  his  blood  on  Calvary, 
That  man  might  be  redeemed  from  sin. 
The  deeds  of  those  who  nobly  died 
With  that  great  deed  are  truly  kin. 


20 


Through  rivers  of  blood  through  rivers  of 

tears, 
These  conqueroring  heroes,  marched  and 

slaved, 

Like  Ceasar's  men,  faced  hell's  fierce  fires, 
But  not  for  once  were  they  dismayed. 

Yes,  they  are  passing1     One,  by  one. 
The  great  creator,  Lord  of  all, 
Angels  and  men  drop  tears  and  pause, 
When  these  true  patriot,  heroes  fall* 

Salute  these  veterans  one  and  all! 
Who  await  their  summons,  await  their  call. 
Tribute  and  praise  to  those  who  fought, 
To  make  supreme  our  National  Law. 


21 


MUTUALITY. 


Good  evenin'  Miss  Sofeeyah! 

Ah  hopes  you  palpertates  wid  pleasure. 

Ef  mah  eyes,  dey  don't  deceive  me, 

Youse  an'  allerbaster  treasure. 

Ah  presippertates  de  proverb 

Dat  ah  may  hab  yo '  consent 

To  obskort  you  home  diss  evenin' 

Ah '11  recept  de  consequent! 

To  me  yo'  eyes  am  charmin' 

Ez  de  dazzlin'  muskerdine. 

You  woo  me  lak  de  wattermillun 

Danglin'  on  de  vine1 

Yo'  voice  am  music  to  mah  ear 

Lak  de  cackle  ob  de  hen. 

De  utmos'  ob  de  bruptness. 

Miss,  ah  hopes  you  comperhen'. 

Yo'  language  Mistah  Ringworm's 
Way  beyond  mah  skoppertee. 
Ah  feels  dat  you  am  inconseer 
An'  dat  you  flatters  me. 
De  dictum  ob  de  circumstance 
Don't  'low  me  to  protrude, 
Fo'  fear  befo'  yo'  joocy  eyes 
Ah  might  'pear  somewhut  rude. 

Don't  let  dat  frustercate  you'  Miss, 
Mah  words  ob  love  don't  disconstrue. 
Ah  wood  disdain  to  flatter  so, 
When  sieh  ez  diss  pertains  to  you! 
Me  sanies  de  humble  bee  an'  de  catterpiller 
De  Billy  goats  an'  de  bobb  tail  rabbitts 
DP  tumble  bug  an'  de  snappin'  turtle, 
Ah's  got  mah  tricks  an'  got  mah  habits. 


22 


But  it's  onterial,  beyond  de  mutton. 
Dat  copeyess  ez  mah  language  'pears, 
You  need  hab  no  timmillertee 
You  needn'  hab  no  doubts  an'  fears. 
Recep'  me  please  in  mah  reques' 
Dat  ah  may  tote  erlong  wid  you 
An'  ef  de  circumstance  propels 
We  will  diss  subjec'  mo'  pursue. 

Ah  grants  yo'  ques',  wid  sweet  delight! 
An'  'cep'  all  dat  you  say,  wid  glee ! 
An'  ef  you  takes  me  by  de  arm, 
Dey  '11  be  no  annermosertee. 


23 


AN  OLD  FASHION  DARKY  PRAYER. 


Oh  Lawd  hab  mussy 
On  diss  po'  ol'  nigger, 
Whose  feckted  wid  de  gout 
An'  de  biles  an'  de  stiggers! 
Mah  foots  am  got  bunyons 
Mah  foots  am  got  corns, 
Oh  Lawd  diss  nigger's  road 
Seems  er  wilderness  ob  thorns! 

Ah's  stung  lak  er  yaller  jacket, 
Stung  lak  er  bee, 
Wid  trials  an'  tribyoolayshens 
Thick  ez  acorns  on  de  tree ! 
De  burden  ahs  er  totem's 
Gittin'  hebbier  an'  bigger, 
Good  Lawd  hab  mussy 
On  diss  po ',  ol ',  nigger ! 

Trouble  come  erlong, 

An'  ah  meets  him  face  to  face! 

Ah  takes  out,  an'  ah  tinks 

Ah's  outstripped  him  in  de  race. 

But  ol'  man  troubles 

Too  soople  fo'  me! 

He 's  swifter  on  de  wing. 

Den  er  fresh  born  bumble  bee ! 

Lawd,  yo'  know 
How  diss  nigger  hab  tried, 
To  keep  peace  in  de  fam'ly 
At  mah  humble  fireside. 
But  hyahs  er  big  knot 
On  de  back  ob  mah  head, 
Whah  ah  was  hit  by  Mandy, 
It's  er  wonder  ah  hain't  dead! 


24 


How  long,  good  Lawd, 

How  long,  how  long, 

Mus'  ah  stan'  diss  hyah  pester 

Mus'  ah  stan'  diss  wrong? 

Jobe  nebber  seed  de  day 

Dat  he  ebber  stood  so  much, 

Ez  diss  ol'  man  dat's  gittin'  erbout, 

Er  hom)in'  on  er  crutch ! 


Ah  nebber  stole  er  chicken, 
Ner  ah  nebber  stole  er  goose ! 
Ah  nebber  stole  er  millen, 
Ner  been  in  de  callerbooce ! 
Ah  nebber  drunk  no  whisky 
But  once  in  mah  life 
An'  ah  nebber  got  vexsayshess  nuff 
To  kick  erbout  mah  wife ! 
Oh,  Lawd,  Oh,  Lawd, 
Come  down  in  mah  hut! 
An'  he'p  dis  po'  ol'  nigger 
Out  de  valley  an'  de  rutt! 
Jes'  bus'  open  de  doh 
An'  tote  right  in, 
Fotch  all  yo'  famly 
An'  fotch  all  yo'  kin. 


25 


THE  CLOSE  OF  DAY. 


Soft,  soft  the  day 
Prom  earth  takes  flight, 
From  unknown  heights 
Slips  down  the  night 
While  sweet  strains  float 
From  heavenly  choirs 
Fond  Holy  hands 
Light  up  the  stars. 

The  flowers  droop 
Their  petals  close, 
Bird,  beast  and  man 
Seek  sweet  repose 
Calm  and  serene 
All  nature  sleeps, 
While  heavenly  hosts 
Quiet  vigil,  keep. 


26 


HAIN'T  YO'  GLAD  DIS  AM  TANKSGPIBBIN' 


Wake  up !  Wake  up ! 
Betsy  Speer! 
Haint  you  glad 
Tanksgibbin's  hyeer? 
Hopp  eroun'  diss  shanty, 
An'  don't  be  fraid  to  hussel! 
Leave  off  yo'  hoops, 
An'  leave  off  yo'  bussel! 

Hain't  yo'  glad  diss  am  Tanksgibbin'? 

Hain't  yo'  glad 

We  bofe  am  libbin'? 

Hain't  no  gal  can  beat  yo'  siss. 

Honey,  give  yo'  ol'  man  jes'  one  kiss 

Den  we'll  bofe  go, 

Git  bizzy  in  de  kitchen! 

Fo'  possum  an'  tayters, 

Mah  stummick  am  er  itchin'. 

Hain't  yo'  glad  diss  am  Tanksgibbin'? 
Hain't  yo'  glad 
We  bofe  am  libbin'? 

Don't  yo'  tink  in  diss  ol'  shanty, 

Vittells  am  skace, 

Ner  vittells  am  scanty. 

Diss  ol'  man  am  boun'  to  keep, 

Grubb  fum  chittlins, 

Plum  down  to  sheep. 

Hain't  yo'  glad  diss  am  Tanksgibbin'V 

Hain't  yo'  glad 

We  bofe  am  libbin '? 


27 


Ah  gits  pestibberess 
Wid  bofe  foots  flingin' 
When  Betsy  gits  to  hunimin', 
When  Betsy  gits  to  singin '. 
Makin'  pumpkin  pie 
An'  fixin'  up  de  batter, 
Possum,  sweet  tayters 
Fo'  de  great  big  platter. 


Hain't  yo'  glad  diss  am  Tanksgibbin'? 
Hain't  yo'  glad 
We  bofe  am  libbin'? 


Thanksgibbin'  am  de  day, 
Fo'  de  bes'  tings  to  eat. 
Dat  sots  yo'  er  tinglhr 
Fum  yo'  stummick  to  yo'  feet. 
Somepun  lak  de  feas' 
Ob  ol'  Bellshazzar, 
Dat's  fitthi'  fo'  er  king, 
Lak  Nebberkernazzar ! 


Hain't  yo'  glad  diss  am  Tanksgibbin'f 
Hain't  yo'  glad 
We  bofe  am  libbin'f 


EXTEMPORANEOUS. 


Gennemen,  an'  ladies, 

Mah  words  am  few! 

Mah  corns  am  er  hurtin', 

An'  mah  bunyons,  too. 

Ahs  been  boddered  wid  de  gout 

Fo'  de  las'  six  weeks! 

An'  ohs  got  er  case  ob  'ralliger, 

Umph !  in  bofe  ob  mah  cheeks ! 

Ah  feels,  kinder  stuffy, 
Kaze  ah  eat  up  while  ergo, 
Two  chickens,  forty  biscuits, 
An'  er  pot  ob  greens  er  so! 
An'  beside  ah  eat  er  possum 
Dat  was  frowed  in  fo  dissert, 
So  ah  hain't  much  fit  fo'  talkin', 
Ah  hain't  feelin'  quite  so  peert! 

But  dat's  needer  hyah, 
Ner  dat's  needer  dah. 
Skewces  hain't  de  ting, 
Dat  yo'  fokses  want  to  hyah. 
So  ah '11  jes'  break  off 
An'  come  to  mah  tex, 
Ef  yo'll  jes'  bah  er  minute 
Till  ah  wipes  off  mah  specks ! 

Ah's  little  skyahd  ah's  bit  off 
Li'l'  mo'  den  ah  can  chew. 
In  risin'  up  dis  evenin' 
Fo'  to  try  to  redress  you. 
Ah  didn't  hab  no  idea 
It  was  sich  er  job  ez  diss, 
Kaze  ef  ah  had,  it's  sartin, 
Hyahs  one  nigger  yo  'd  er  miss. 


29 


Still  ah  won't  ac'  er  fool 
An'  try  to  wiggle  out  de  traces, 
Erspeshly  after  peerin' 
In  so  many  dazzlin'  faces! 
De  Tom  cat  am  de  Tom  cat 
De  Billg  goat  am  ol'  Billy, 
Ah '11  try  to  reach  de  summit 
But  it  sho '  am  powf ul  hilly ! 

De  worl  am  trabblin'  mighty  fas', 
Lak  de  lightnin'  dat's  er  flashin', 
Yo'  tink  some  time  she  gwine  to  stop, 
But  on  she  keeps  er  dashin', 
Diss  am  de  time  ob  'vancement, 
Cullahd  fo'kses  whah's  yo  gwine? 
Times  got  too  fas'  fo'  walkin', 
Umph!     De  white  fo'ks  gone  to  flyin'! 

We  now  can  take  ah  stool  an'  set, 
'Neef  de  fig  an'  juniper  tree! 
An'  ef  we  desah,  lak  Zackess, 
Git  up  ez  high  ez  he. 
De  risin'  tide  ob  progress 
Am  reachin'  sich  er  score, 
Till  de  struggles  masteekayted, 
Ebbryting  is  honkkeedore. 

We  am  er  part  an'  paresoil 

Ob  dis  Ian'  ob  liberty, 

Dat  am  so  frussterkayted 

Wid  sich  sassferritertee 

An'  when  ah  counts  de  minutes, 

An'  de  seconds  to  er  dot, 

Ah  feels  lak  gittin'  up  runnin', 

Till  mah  ankles  bofe  git  hot! 


30 


Oh  Dove  ob  Peace, 
Whah  am  yo'  roostin'? 
Flop  down  !    Yo 's  welcome 
Yo '  am  no  nuisance ! 
De  fracas  an'  strife 
Bofe  run  lak  er  steer, 
When  yo'  floop  yo'  wings 
An'  drap  down  hyeer! 

Ah  tanks  yo'  gennemen  an'  ladies, 
Wid  er  feelin'  mos  petight, 
Fo'  all  diss  hyah  pomppossitee 
Dat  fellissertates  mah  sight. 
Let  de  yaller.,  dog  rejoiceecate 
Wid  de  rabbitts  an'  de  Billy  goat. 
Ah  wont  grumble,  tall 
Ef  it's  jes'  poke  chops 
Er  an'  ol'  fat  piece  ob  shoat! 

Oh  roary  boreree  Alice1 
Oh  sunlight  ob  de  sunlight, 
Fling  down  yo'  rays  ob  silver 
An'  make  diss  Ian'  shine  bright. 
Wave  on  an'  flutter  to  de  breeze, 
Dat  banner  ob  de  stars, 
May  possum  an'  tayters 
Chicken  an'  poke  chops 
An'  egg  pone,  ebber  be  ours! 


31 


WISHED  AH  D  RODE  MAH  HOSS— Revised. 


Rode  on  dat  dah  leetric  kyah ! 
Wished  ahd  rode  raah  boss  ! 
Scared  me  wussan  den  er  bah ! 
Wished  ahd  rode  mah  boss  ! 
Nebbah  seed  sich  runnin',  son 
Swo '  we 's  fly  in '  to  de  sun, 
Thought  diss  darky's  days  was  done. 
Wished  ahd  rode  mah  boss ! 

Gee!  dat  ting  sho'  split  de  ah! 
Wished  ahd  rode  mah  boss ! 
Lak  er  highferlootin'  stab  ! 
Wished  ahd  rode  mah  boss ! 
Ebbryting  was  blurred  in  sight ! 
Dust  flew  higher  den  er  kite, 
Couldn'  tell  de  lef '  fum  right! 
Wished  ahd  rode  mah  boss ! 

When  she  struck  eroun'  de  kyrve, 

Wished  ahd  rode  mah  boss ! 

All  loss  mah  head  an'  loss  mah  nerve, 

Wished  ahd  rode  mah  boss ! 

Umph"!    she  kyahd  us  down  de  line  ! 

No  hobo  could  stuck  behine. 

Ef  he  had,  he'd  gone  stone  bline ! 

Wished  ahd  rode  mah  boss ! 

Now  an '  den  she  'd  sortah  reel ! 

Wished  ahd  rode  mah  boss ! 

Chilled  mah  blood  fum  head  to  heel ! 

AVished  ahd  rode  mah  boss ! 

Taw  erbout  er  powful  prah, 

Gawd  knows !  Ah  made  one  righ  dah  ! 

Ahd  drudder  been  ridin '  on  mah  ol'  gray  mah ! 

Wished  ahd  rode  mah  boss ! 


32 


When  she  made  dat  lunge 

Wid  er  crickertee  crack ! 

Wished  ahd  rode  mah  hoss ! 

Good  Lawd !    Ah  hollered ! 

She's  gwine  to  leeb  de  track! 

Wished  ahd  rode  mah  hoss  ! 

She  wobbled  lak  er  tea  cup 

Only  hitin'  high  places. 

Karin'  lak  er  race  hoss  in  new  traces! 

Till  it  looked  lak  de  debbil'd 

Done  busted  loose  her  braces ! 

Wished  ahd  rode  mah  hoss ! 

When  dat  fellah  stopped  dat  kyah ! 

Wished  ahd  rode  mah  hoss ! 

In  less  den  er  jiffy 

Ah  hopped  out  ob  dah ! 

Wished  ahd  rode  mah  hoss! 

Ah  wouldn't  ride  no  mo' 

Ef  dey'd  let  me  ride  free! 

01'  Susan's  fas'  ernuf  fo'  me! 

Ef  she  am  way  behine 

In  er  sprintin'  bee ! 

Wished  ahd  rode  mah  hoss ! 


33 


BEFO'  DE  REGLAH  PERCEEDINS. 


Befo'  we  expedite  tonight 

De  proceeds  ob  procedure, 

Ah  desahs  to  f otch  up  'f  o '  yo '  all 

Annuddah  kind  ob  feature. 

It  pains  me  much  to  larn  some  f ac  's 

Erbout  er  suttin'  pawty, 

Who  am  done  been  erkewzed  by  one 

Ob  dulgen  in  much  toddy! 

De  fac's  to  me  'pears  somewhut  sprite 
An'  tippifies  er  lickrisii  drop ! 
Read  de  sign  in  de  rabbitt  's  foot ! 
Behold  which  way  de  rooster  flopp ! 
Whahfo'  de  law  in  Brackstone  says 
" Don't  'cep  de  combattillertee ! 
But  raddah  specify  dahfo' 
To  prove  de  inability!" 

Mah  comment   'pon  de  fac's  am  diss — 
De  circumstances  ob  diss  case 
Am  swallowed  up  wid  lots  ob  doubt ! 
De  fac's  an'  figgers  pro  an'  con 
Debolves  on  yo'  to  fotch  'em  out ! 


De  verbeality  seems  to  me 
To  hopp  skipp  jump  beyon'd  er  f razzel ! 
But  ah  don't  'poze  yo'  all  shall  make 
De  law  <T  fake  er  big  skiddazzel! 
Whahfo'  in  justice  to  yo'  all 
Ah  pusifies  right  hyah  de  pawty 
Who  am  so  pintly  been  erkewzed 
Ob  'dulgin'  in  er  lots  ob  toddy! 


34 


So  bruddah  Jones  will  please  stan'  up 

Befo'  dis  robus'  body, 

An'  clah  yo'  coat  tails  ob  dis  charge 

Erbout  yo'  drinkin'  toddy! 

De  brudder  tells  me,  yes-tiddy 

He  seed  yo '  wid  er  bottle ! 

Fum  it  yo's  drinkin'  whiskey,  sah- 

Till  yo  could  bahly-waddle ! 

An'  dat  he  seed  yo'  once  befo' 

Er  drinkin'  down  de  alley! 

An'  dat  it  mus'  been  tammerrack 

De  way  yo 's  drinkin '  f arely . 

But  right  hyah  lemme  say  one  ting 

We  want  no  razzah  pullin' ! 

Ah  stakes  hyah  on  diss  rabbitt  's  foot 

"We'll  hab  none  ob  dat  foolin'! 

"Who  am  de  man  dat  vilifies 

Me,  Mistah  Moderator? 

In  sich  specktifferous  eggofoam 

An'  stabs  me  lak  er  traitor! 

Am  he  hyah?    Let  him  rizz  up 

An'  qualify  dis  matter! 

Ah '11  prove  hyah  by  de  alibi 

He  am  er  liein'  adder! 


Forty  yeers !  yes  mo '  den  dat 
Ah's  b 'longed  to  dis  hyah  church 
Dis  am  de  fus'  time  in  mah  life 
Ah's  ebbah  had  er  smerch ! 
It  am  no  dictum  hyah  to  me 
To  roobicate  an'  squerm! 
Watch  dat  man  who  tol'  yo'  dat 
He  am  er  piaen  worm ! 


35 


Er  snake  in  de  grass ! 

Yes!  wuss  den  dat! 

Er  dog!  er  beas'ly  ass! 

Stan'  up  yo'  scoundrel  ef  yo'  dah 

Ah'll  choke  yo'  lak  er  bass ! 

Sah !  it  am  p  'posstrus  f o '  to  tink 
Dat  and  digress  de  law  : 
Hyah!  When  ah  stoops  to  sich  disgrace 
Come,  smash  me  in  de  jaw ! 

Er  man  ob  mah  subbillity 
Am  got  too  much  vitooperuss  pride, 
An'  stans  back  'pon  mah  indignee 
An'  'fuze  to  be  so  villified! 

Who  am  de  man,  yo'  heah  me  sah? 

Sho '  me  de  pizen  vagabond  ! 

Loan  me  yo'  razzah  deacon  Pine 

Ah'll  kyahrve  him  plum  down  to  de  ground! 

You  out  ob  ordah  Bruddah  Jones ! 
Draw  in  yo'  horns !    Don't  rile  lak  dat ! 
Tawk  to  de  pint,  an'  kamly  pursoo ! 
Don't  fizz  'roun'  lak  er  chossy  cat! 

Yo'  pull  er  razzah  in  diss  church 
Ah'll  use  diss  ball  bat  on  yo'  Read ! 
Ef  yo'  don't  lak  de  way  ah  rules, 
Tote  out  an'  sot  in  dat  wood  shed! 

"Now  see  hyah,  mistah  chairman, 
Ah's  got  de  flo'! 

Ah  'poze  to  skuss  diss  ting  plum  out ! 
Lay  down  dat  ball  bat  till  ah's  froo, 
Fum  A  to  Z,  ah  'poze  to  spout ! 


36 


Mah  character  am  been  erspowzed! 
Mah  good  name  frus'  widdin  de  dus'! 
Befo'  ah'd  fail  to  spute  dat  ting, 
Ah'd  let  mah  inside,  outside  bus'! 

Once  mo'  ah  ax  yo', 

Whah  am  de  man  dat  concocks 

Sich  er  scheme  ez  diss? 

Pint  him  out  hyah  f o '  mah  eyes  ! 

An'  lemmee  smash  him  wid  mah  fiss ! 

Well  Bruddah  Jones,  ef  yo'  mus'  kno', 
De  man  dat  tole  me  diss  hyah  ting, 
Am  sotin'  right  dah !  Fo'  yo'  eyes 
Er  fumblin'  wid  dat  chicken's  wing1 

Who?     Deacon  Squabbles? 
Am  he  de  man  dat  cockted  dat  ergin  me,sah  ? 
Whahfo'  yo'  sneeks  widdin'  de  grass 
when  ah  is  axin '  f  o '  yo '  hyah  ! 

Is  yo '  got  de  dassity  sah !  to  sklaim 
Yo'  seed  me  wid  er  dimmeejohn, 
An'  seed  me  drinkin'  tammerrack, 
Till  ebbry  bit  ob  it  was  gone  ? 

Yessah  !    Ah  bleeb  ah  did  say  dat ! 
Ah  said  you's  drinkin'  licker  sah! 
Ef  mah  refleckshun  serbs  me  right, 
Ah  seed  yo '  ez  ah  hoppd  de  kyah ! 

Dat  am  er  lie  yo '  pizen  skunk ! 
Yo'  tamminates  de  race  ob  Ham ! 
Yo'  confoun  brack  hide  chicken  thief 
Yo'  nebbah  seed  me  tace  er  dram! 


37 


Lawd  yes  ah  did ! 

Las'  Chewsday  night 

Bofe  deacon  Squash  an'  you  was  tight ! 

Yo'  bofe  was  at  de  barr'l  bung  hole. 

An'  drinkin'  Lawd,  wid  all  yo'  might! 

Whut!     Look  hyah  mistah  Chairman, 

He 's  got  to  fight  me  sho ' ! 

Deacon,  hoi'  mah  dustah ! 

Git  back!   Gimmee  some  mo'  flo'! 

Now  ef  yo's  got  er  spec'  ob  sair, 

Stan'  up  an'  fight  me  lak  er  man! 

Stop!    Stop!    Yo' all! 

Ah  rules  de  chair ! 

Sot  down  bofe  ob  yo' 

Whah  yo'  air! 

Yo's  gittin'  too  rambunkshess  hyah! 

Ah  dahfo'  church  bofe  ob  yo'  all! 

Hyah !  Deacon  Bonesett,  deacon  Pine 

Fro '  bofe  dem  brudders  in  de  hall ! 


While  we  all  rize  up  now  an'  sing. 
Behold  de  amorites  come  'roun' 
De  joobersights  dey  kain't  be  foun'. 
Ol '  Pahro  's  loss  his  hoss  an '  ass 
An'  Moses  wins  de  race  at  las'! 


38 


WAY  DOWN  SOUF. 


Sing  dat  song  once  mo',  Miss  Mandy, 
Jes'  once  mo',  jes'  ef  yo'  please ! 
Sounds  ez  sweet  ez  angel  whispers, 
An'  de  song  birds  'mong  de  trees, 
It  kyahs  me  back!  way  back  yonder, 

Way  down  Souf ! 

Whah  we  tromped  thoo'  de  cotton  fields, 
An'  when  ah  hearts  was  sad, 
We  sing'd  dat  chune 
Fo'  to  make  ah  souls  glad, 

Way  down  Souf ! 

Yo'  know  nuffin'  'bout  dem  days,  Miss  Mandy, 
Dat  was  bef o '  yo '  time  ! 
'Sides  yo's  been  r'ared 
In  er  cliff un '  clime  ! 

Yo'  nebbah  had  to  wock  fum  de  fus'  horn  bio' 
Lak  we  uster  had  to  wock 
Till  de  sun  sink'd  low, 
Way  down  Souf ! 

But  we  had  good  times,  Miss  Mandy, 
Sum  good  ol'  times  fo'  sho'! 
But  ol'  Missy  an'  ol'  Massa, 
We  diden'  let  'em  know. 
Yo'  bet  we's  mighty  kyahful 
When  we  had  ah  dance  an'  feas', 
Dat  ol'  Missy  an'  ol'  Massa 
Didn't  git  an  inklin'  in  de  leas' ! 

When  Ah  hyah  dat  chune,  Miss  Mandy, 
Ah  wants  to  step  erbout, 
An'  do  jes'  lak  de  ol'  fo'ks, 
Ez  dey  uster  sing  an'  shout, 
Way  down  Souf! 


39 


I  kin  see  dem  now ! 
Ez  dey  raised  dey  voice  to  sing, 
An'  sot  de  cl'  big  cabin 
In  one  great  big  ring' 
Way  down  Souf ! 

But  dem  days  done  gone,  Miss  Mandy! 
Dey's  gone  lak  er  dream. 
An'deol'fo'ks, 
Done  crossed  de  stream ! 
But  doh  dey's  gone, 
An'  ah's  lef  erlone, 
An'  ol'  age  creeped 
In  mah  ebbry  bone, 
Dey's  a  hankerin'  feelin'! 
Keeps  er  dribein'  me  back, 
Way  down  Souf ! 

When  er  dahky  is  ol ', 
An'  his  step  comes  slo ', 
An'  he  totters  lak  er  reed. 
When  de  sof '  winds  blow, 
An'  all  his  ties  ob  erf  am  dead, 
An '  f o  'ks  all  strange 
Whah  ebber  he  tread, 
It 's  de  ol '  time  chune, 
Wid  er  clah,  keen  knack! 
Dat  makes  yo'  feel  new. 
'Peahs  yo '  youth  come  back, 
Way  down  Souf! 


40 


"CHUNKIN  'EM  UP! 

Mah  tex  am  foun', 

In  de  book  ob  John, 

One  eye,  one,  one  eye ! 

Sebbenteen  chapter, 

An'  de  too-tee-tooth  verse, 

An  ah  hyahd  Paul  stan',  an'  cry, 

Why  am  yo'  sotin'  hyah, 

Widnuffin'  to  do? 

When  sinners  lak  merskeetahs 

Am  er  flockin '  'roun '  you ! 

How  does  yo'  'spec' 

Fo'  de  hyahbuss  to  be  sickled? 

Does  yo'  tink  dat  makes, 

De  Lawd  ha-^y,  an'  tickled? 

Whut  does  de  bible  saj^? 
"Git  out,  in  de  hedges!" 
Knock  down  de  sinners 
Wid  yo '  big  gospul  sledges ! 
Till  dey  yell  lak  big  Injuns 
An'  hollah  lak  stuck  pigs! 
Den  yo'  doin'  somepun 
An '  de  Lawd  will  tink  yo '  big ! 

Yo '  all 's  playin  'possum ! 
Yo'  hain't  doin'  er  ting! 
Yo '  pray  er  pow  'f ul  lots 
Shout  lak  sixty,  an'  yo'  sing! 
Yo'  wah-whoop  lak  er  'pottamuss 
An'  yo'  knock  de  benches  down, 
When  time  to  hunt  de  sinners 
Dey  hain't  one  ob  yo'  erounM 

Yo 's  rusty  ez  er  hedge  hog 
Wid  er  great  big  coat  ob  moss ! 
Yo '  hain  't  got  no  mo '  'liggen 


41 


Den  an'  ol'  box  ankle  hoss! 
Ef  yo  's  put  up  at  de  auction, 
Yo '  wouldn '  t'otch  five  cents ! 
Fum  de  Lawd,  ner  er  deacon, 
Umph !    De  awful  consequence  ! 

Yo'  ol'  hypocritts! 
Er  sotin'  lak  stool  piggens! 
Yo'  try  in'  to  fool  de  fo'kses 
Make  'em  tink  yo '  got  religgen ! 
Fo '  yo ',  umph !    De  debbil  's 
Gwine  to  heat  hell  ten  times  hotter, 
When  it's  time  fo'  to  take  yo' 
Down  erpon  his  teeter-totter ! 

Why  hain't  yo'  torn  toms 
Er  raisin'  barrels  ob  racket? 
Yo'  hain't  got  'miff  'Hggen 
In  yo'  bones  fo'  to  back  it! 
Ah  dah  yo '  to  'spute  it ! 
Wliah  am  yo'  alibi? 
Yo 's  rotten  ez  perturnips 
Dat  am  stood  since  las '  July  ! 

Yo '  tink  yo 's  got  de  cunnin ' 
Ob  an'  ol'  red  brissled  fox! 
But  de  Debbil  when  he  stawts  yo', 
Gwine  to  run  yo '  out  yo '  socks ! 
Dey's  one  ting  bout  de  debbil  ob  tricks  an'  cun 
nin' 

He 's  past  master ! 
An'  when  it  comes  to  sprintin', 
Dog  mah  cats!    Dey  hain't  none  faster! 

Ez  ah  observates  diss  geddrin', 

An'  ah  focus  ebbry  one. 

Ah  'lows  mah  view  to  digress 

To  de  Lawd's  wock  lef '  undone. 

Ez  ah  sees  de  sinners  flockin'  hyah 


42 


An  pilein'  in  de  pew, 

Ah  says,  good  Lawd  er  mussy 

De  Christians  mus'  be  mighty  few! 

Now  am  de  time! 
Whut  yo'  waitin'  fo',  now? 
Yo'  hain't  hoein'  de  tayters 
Ner  follerin'  de  plough! 
Whut  yo '  gwine  to  do 
In  de  gittin'  up  day? 
Try  to  cunjer  Satan 
An '  den  git  erway  ! 

Ah!  lemmee  tell  yo', 
Dat  ol '  rabbitt  foot  yo '  got, 
Won 't  save  yo '  mutton 
Ner  keep  yo '  out  de  pot ! 
Kaz  de  debbil  am  foddah 
Ob  all  sich  ez  dat !     , 
Dah  Now !     Lemmee  ax  you 
Umph!     Now  whah's  yo'  at? 

Yo'  hear  de  wind  bio'? 
Which  way  am  it  gwine? 
Why  am  er  goose  tail 
Not  lak  er  swine? 
W7hy  does  er  peacock 
Tote  erbout  wid  pride? 
Kaze  he's  got  some  de  debbil 
Dat  yo '  got  in  yo'  hide  ! 

De  buzzahd  am  er  roostin' 

Way  in  de  tree  ! 

An'  de  chessy  cat  er  runnin' 

Lak  de  dickens  fum  me ! 

But  ah,  lemmee  tell  yo', 

Dey's  er  whole  lots  ob  fox  fire ! 

An'  ah's   'fraid  lots  yo'  Christians 

Am  stuck  in  de  mire ! 


43 


Some's  got  er  bull 

Some  an'  ox  by  de  tail! 

Some  am  er  bowin' 

An'  er  prayin   to  bail! 

Some  says  er  tangerrang 

Swallowed  Jonah, 

An '  not  er  whale ! 

Bnt  ah,  who  knows  mah  bruddah 

P'haps  it  might  hab'  been  er  quail ! 

Yo'  ol'  backsliders! 
Way  back  in  de  pew ! 
Lissen  hyah  to  me  ! 
Ah's  er  tawkin '  to  yo ' ! 
De  lion's  laid  down, 
But  he  hain't  er  sleep- 
Why  am  yo'  laggin'? 
Umph !    Why  does  yo '  creep  ? 

De  shaddahs  am  er  droopin' 

An'  de  sun  em  gittin'  dim! 

Whah  am  yo'  lamps? 

Am  yo'  got  'em  trim? 

Ah  'spec'  jes'  lak  de  hittights 

Yo'  fogot  yo'  kyahroseen! 

Ef  dat  's  f ac  's  an  figgers, 

Good  Lawd !    Yo '  skewce  am  mighty  leen  ! 

Hawkee !    Mah  lambs ! 
Umph !     Hawkee  mah  sheep  ! 
Hell's  blazin  hot 
Umph  !    Hell 's  powf  ul  deep  ! 
Roozlum  mighty  Jacobs ! 
Why  am  yo'  all  so  fickle? 
When  de  distance  f'um  hell 
Hain't  wider  den  er  nickle? 


44 


OLD  FRIENDS. 

Tote  erside,  Dina, 

Lemme  f row  ope  de  doh ; 
Hyah's  Uncle  Billy, 

An'  hyah's  Uncle  Crow. 
It  sho'  am  good 

Fo'  mah  ol'  dim  eyes 
To  see  yo'  all  ergin 

Fo'  Ah  draps  off  an'  Ah  dies. 

Umph  !     Dis  ol'  shanty 

Hain  't  big  ernuff  f  o '  me, 
Mah  ol'  soul's  er  buzzin' 

Lak  er  big  bumble  bee. 
Ah  clah,  boys,  Ah  really 

Kain't  tell  how  good  Ah  feels. 
But  Ah  feels  plum  good 

Fum  mah  head  down  to  mah  heels. 

Skewze  de  ol'  man,  Diana, 

Fo'  mah  kickin'  sich  er  romp, 
Kaze  Ah's  jes'  got  to  holler 

An'  Ah's  jes'  got  to  stomp! 

"When  sich  ol'  fren's 

Ez  dese  come  'roun', 
Ah's  got  to  ac'  er  fool, 

An'  Ah  got  "to  ac'  er  clown. 

Fill  up  de  dimmeejohn 

Full  ob  applejack, 
An '  we  '11  drink  an '  swaller 

Till  we's  limber  in  de  back 


45 


To'  needn'  be  timid 

Kaze  we 's  got  er  plenty  mo ' ; 
We's  got  barrels  ob  time. 

Yo'  needn'  hurry  'tall  to  go. 

Look  er  hyah,  Diana, 

Deeze  boys  am  fum  de  Eas', 
Kill  lots  ob  chickens 

An'  kill  lots  ob  geese. 
We'll  hab  er  li'l'  'possum, 

An'  coon,  too,  besides! 
We'll  stuff  an'  feed  'em 

Till  dey  puff  out  at  de  sides. 

Well,  Uncle  Billy ; 

Umph  !    Uncle  Crow ! 
Dis  am  a  reg'lar  suckess. 

An'  er  reel  side  show; 
Yo'  shall  'joy  de  bes' 

Dat  dis  ol '  shanty 's  got ; 
We'll  fill  up  ebbery  skillet, 

We'll  fill  up  ebbery  pot. 

Foteh  out  yo'  pipes,  boys, 

Hab  er  li  '1 '  smoke ; 
Tell  us  'bout  de  craps 

An'  tell  us  'bout  de  fo'ks. 
Lawdy  massy,  honey, 

Dina,  how's  yo'  gittin'  'long? 
Put  on  some  dem  spah  ribs, 

Honey,  put  on  some  dat  corn. 


46 


To'  hain't  drank  ernuff,  boys, 

TakeerliVmo'; 
It  tain't  er  bit  ska'ce, 

We's  got  er  barrel  er  so; 
Yo'  know  we  ol'  fo'ks 

Am  boun '  to  hab  ah  totty ; 
Boys,  lemme  'duce  yo' 

To  mah  liT  gal,  Lotty. 

Make  yo'se'ves  at  home, 

Ah's  gwine  to  go  an'  chop  some  logs ; 

Chase  in  de  dogs 

An'  lock  up  de  hogs; 
It  twon't  be  long, 

An'  when  Ah  comes  back 
We'll  tote  to  de  table 

An'  fill  up  lak  er  sack. 


47 


DOWN  IN  OL'  VIROINNY. 

Ah  jes'  got  back  fum  G'inny, 
An'  yo'  tawk  erbout  er  time, 
It  didn't  cos'  er  nickel, 
Ner  it  didn't  cos'  er  dime! 
All  de  latch  strings  ob  de  shanties 
AYas  er  hangin '  out  f o '  me 
Dey  come  eroun'  to  see  me 
Same  ez  at  er  huskin'  bee! 

When  dey  hyahd  Ah'd  done  erriven, 
Why,  dey  all  come  troopin'  'roun, 
De  ol'  fo'ks  an'  de  young  fo'ks 
Fum  mos'  ebbry  pawt  de  town. 
Dey  filed  into  de  shanty. 
Went  to  shakin'  hands  wid  me 
Ez  doh  it  was  de  fustess  time 
Dey  'd  seed  me  since  we 's  free ! 

Dey  shook  mah  hand  an'  squeesed  it 
Sum  de  brudders  full  ob  vim, 
Till  dey  bent  me  nigh  mos'  dubble 
An'  Ah  shook  in  ebbry  lim'. 
Dey's  some  dem  good  ol'  brudders 
Got  er  grip  jes'  lak  er  vice 
An'  yo'  bet  Ah  wasn't  dyin' 
Fo'  to  hab  'em  shake  it  twice. 

Ah  thought  dey's  gwine  to  eat  me 
Sich  er  'cepshun  dat  Ah  got ! 
Dey  said  Ah's  gwine  to  git 
Some  ob  de  bes'  was  in  de  pot. 


43 


De  whole  passel  got  'roun'  me, 
Went  er  circin'  'roun'  an'  'rot 
An'  we  all  was  soon  er  habin' 
Jes'  ez  much  fun  ez  er  clown. 


'Twas  lak  er  love  feas'  meetin', 

Er  reg'lar  juberlee! 

De  way  dem  fo'ks  was  fussin' 

An'  er  kyarin'  on  ober  me. 

Ebberybody  'joyed  it 

An'  dey  was  no  standin'  back, 

Plenty  hosskerpality 

An'  dey  wasn't  nuffin'  slack! 

Dey  dooced  me  an'  dey  dooced  me 
To  fus'  one  an'  den  de  udder, 
Dey  kep'  me  dar  er  bowin' 
Till  mah  heart  was  in  er  flutter ! 
'Twas,  howdy  Uncle  Peter! 
'Twas,  howdy  Cousin,  too ! 
'Twas,  Ah's  jes'  feelin'  tollable, 
Uncle  Noah,  how  yo'  do? 

'Twas,  look  hyah,  yo'  hain't  Mandy's 

An'  ol'  man  Bazzel's  boy? 

Umph!  Fo'  de  Lawd's  sake,  honey! 

Do  let  me  dance  fo'  joy! 

Look  hyah!  Yo'  mean  to  tell  me, 

Yo's  ol'  man  Bazzel's  chile? 

See  hyah,  in  mah  shanty 

Dey's  room  fo'  yo'  all  de  while. 


49 


'Twas  come  to  Sunday  meeting 
An'  love  feas'  Chewsday  night! 
An'  don't  fo'git  de  quiltin' 
At  Sis  Merlindy  White's. 
'Twas  come  an'  eat  some  dinner! 
An'  stay  er  while  wid  me. 
Jes'  eat  an'  drink  good  liquor, 
Till  yo's  too  blind  to  see! 

'Twas,  how's  oP  Uncle  'Rastus 

An'  Miss  Eliza  Jane? 

An'  how  is  craps  up  yondah, 

An'  is  yo'  gittin'  rain? 

Say!   Whah's  ol'  Game  Leg  Ruff  els? 

Is  Sally  married  yet? 

An'  how's  yo'  ol'  dog  Fido? 

An'  whut's  yo'  done  wid  pet? 

Yo'  tawk  erbout  yo'  eatin', 
Whut  dey  had  fixed  up  fo '  me, 
'Twas  nuff  to  feed  er  reg'ment, 
An'  twelve  monkeys  up  er  tree1 
Dey  nearly  lakd  to  kill  me, 
Er  feedin'  me  so  much  stuff. 
An'  still  dey  kep'  er  say  in', 
Chile,  yo'  hain't  eat  ernuff. 

Ah  nebber  had  sich  fusses, 
Made  ober  me  befo', 
When  it  was  time  fo'  gwine, 
Ah  diden'  want  to  go ! 


50 


De  or  fo'ks  got  eroun'  me, 
Er  beggin'  me  to  stay. 
To  tell  de  troof  erbout  it, 
Ah  could  bahly  git  erway ! 

Dem  fo'kses  down  in  'Ginny 
Lissen  whut  Ah's  got  to  say, 
Dey'll  feed  yo'  an'  dey'll  bunk  yo', 
An'  dey  nebber  ax  no  pay! 
Dey  treat  yo'  lak  de  fam'ly, 
Dat's  de  way  dey  make  yo'  feel, 
An'  dey'll  gib  yo'  plenty  boghead 
Poke  an'  beans  fo'  ebbry  meal! 

Ef  Ah  keeps  er  tawkin'  'bout  it 
Ah '11  tote  back  dah  fo'  Ah  know! 
Kaze  de  way  dem  fo'ks  done  treat  me, 
Ah  hain't  'tented  hyah  no  mo'! 
Ah's  got  er  mighty  hank'rin 
Fo'  ol'  Virginny  place, 
An'  all  Ah  want's  de  'vitin', 
An'  Ah's  sho'  Ah  won't  be  skace. 


51 


PS  35/6- 


